Aeroplane.



F. A. uLLlNGToII.`

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5| I9l2.

Patented De@h 11,1917. i

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...2J Y f LA, )i I @LWSMMM( Mlm@ F. A. BULLINGTON.

AEROPLANE. Arrucnlnon msn ocr. 5. |912. 1,249,593. l Patented Dec.11,1917.

' -Be it known that I FRANK rron a citizenV of the ytudinal axes, eithertogether, or independ-4 ali4 'UNITED Isirarns PATENT oirincia rnaivxa.BULLINGTON, or PORTLAND, onEGoiv.'

AEROPLANE.

vApplication tiled October 5, 1912. Serial No. 724,081.- v

To all fwhom it may concern:

A. BniiLiNcnitedStates, residing in the city of Portland, vcounty ofMultnomah, andV State of Oregon, have invented Aeroplanes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention 'relatesto aeroplanes, and more particularly tocertainimprovements in the 4general plan and design of a heavierthan-airflying machine, and in the control ling mechanism therefor, wherebymakeV possible amore natural and instinctive control of the' machine.

Amongthe salient objectsl of my inven# tior'r are,-

. To provide in an aeroplane a plurality of supporting or4carryingplanes, pivotally 'certain i new and useful Improvements in byto make said control as natural and instinctive as possible; that is,the movement of'the'controlling mechanism in'order to restore or correctthe equilibrium of themaehine is dependent upon and in accord with thenatural movement of the'body of the ,pilot in -maintaining hisequilibrium.

Other features of improvement will ap- 4pear from the followingdescription of o ne practical embodiment. of the invention,which'isgiven for the purpose ofenab'ling others to understand-it.n I nthe present em- Lbod-iment of the invention I have shownV a mounted toturnabout longitudinal aires,4

with an 'improved controllingA mechanism therefor; to provide in anaeroplane a tandem arrangement ofthe carrying or sup. portingI planes,with someor all of said planes pivotallymounted to turn upon'longitudinal axes, and movable thereon to give direction to, and tocontrol the equilibrium gof," said aeroplane; to` provide in anaerofplanea plurality of carrying or supporting planes, each of which iscomposed of op positely disposed planes or. plane sections, f

pivotally. mounted tooturn upon their longiently .of each, other; toprovide in an aeroplane aconstruction wherein the use of auxiliary'lanes, such as 'ailerons and elevators,

`entirely eliminated, asis the attendant resistance. of such auxiliaryplanes to pro- 'vide in such: a machineV a construction Wherei'n theaxesof rotation of the several planes,

or plane sections, areA-so ldisposed and the controlling connectionstherebetween areso made, that the control is balance; that is,

`any unba'liatncngA pressure on'one of said planes, or sections, is, byreason 'of the 'connections, resisted by a corresponding, and

counteracting pressure upon an opposed planeto provide'in such a machinea construction whereby the planes, or planesections, arehingedlyattaehed. to th 4fuselage soas to be turned and l'swung backalong the fsides thereof in lorder to --facilitate the transportation orstorage thereof;l tojpr'ovide in f such a'machine an improved andsimplified Y the control of the planes thereof, and wherecontrolling'or`ma-nipulatng mechanism for longitudinal base ofsupport extendingfrom' i nSpecification of Letters Patent. I Patented Dep 1 1, 191.7,

the center ofthe front plane to the centerof the rear plane, and theweight is so disposed that the center of mass falls -within the hase ofsupport regardless of the angle of inclination of the machine. Again,the pivotal longitudinal axis of each ofthe of pressure varies accordingto the angle of theplane with relation to the direction of motion. l

planes coincides with the meany center 'of Vair pressure thereof, thoughthe said center Referring now to the drawings,'I will de- I scribe theembodiment of the invention shown for ypurposes of illustration.

Figure 1 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 2 is atop plan view thereof;

Fig. 3ds a vertical sectional view talenl.

with the power'mechhinge ,connection .of one of the planes to thefuselage.

The inventionas here embodied and illusti'ated, comprises a longfuselagefor bodylI,

of substantially the'form anddesign shown,

and havinga two-wheeled `chassis, as 2, in4

front, with a companion caster or steering' wheel`3,.toward'therear,upon whichsaid machine can be 'moved and directedupon the ground. Forthe purpose ofclearness in the'dra'wings, I have purposelyomitted thebrace Vmembers and-manyof. the guy wires 4from said fuselage. Apropeller 4 is provlded inthe front*of the machine, as indiplane iscomposed of two oppositely disposed planes, or plane sections, atopposite sides. of the fuselage,- both in f ront and in the rear, eachof said planes beinpI movably mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis,at

-one end of which it is hingedly attached to the body on fuselage. Thetwo front plane sections I will designate as A and and the two rearplane'sections, I will designate as Gand D.- The planes A and B areprovided, respectively, with the main longitudinally extending members'or axes, designated.8 and 9, and hingedly connected to the fuselage 1,as indicated atrlO and-11, and vthe rear planes C and D areprovidedswith similar members or axes, designated 12 and 13, Aandhingedly connected to the fuselage, as

indicated at 14 and 15. By thus hingedly connecting said planes, orplane sections to the fuselage,a`s indicated, they can be turned intovertical-planes and swung around upon their y hinge connections'alongside of the fuselage r. body 1, for transportation or shipping purposes,it being understood, of course, that the .various operating and4 guywires, hereinafter referred to, have been'disconnected. I have indicatedthis folded position in dotted lines, Fig. 2, as to planes B and D` Saidplanes,or plane sections, are'each provided through its middle with arigid guy mast, a's '16, from-the ends of which are t e guy wirest17---17,f-from corner to'corner, as indicated both above and below eachof said planes.

Mounted upon .the fuselage, at onts between the oppositely disposed-'panes, are rigid A-frame masts, as 18-18, extending above and below saidfuselage, in front and in the rear, as indicated. Fromthese masts aretending from' the outermost ends of the planes, and tlie wires 20-20extending from the bases of'the plaine guy mastslG-IG to guy wires isi-20,1116 wires 19-19 e said A-frames, as' indicated in Fi 3. VAll of saidguy wires are attached to t e planes 'at their longitudinal axes,whereby to permit of the free movement of said planes, or plane Theopposite ends of-each of said masts 16-16 ofthe planes are also rovidedwith brace wires, as 22.-22, exten ing from the ends thereof throughpulleys, as 23-23, upon the fuselage, both forwardly and rearwardly ofeach plane section,- as clearly indicated in Figs'. 1 and 2, whereby toguy said planes and sections, in'either direction, about their lon--gitudinal axes.

their masts 16-16, to the fuselage 1,'front and rear, and at the sametime permit them to be freely moved about their longitudinal axes.

Referring now tol Fig. Ll, I will describe the I controlling mechanismby means of which the pilot can manipulate the planes in the controlofthe machine. In the present form', this comprises a rocking frame orelement, 24, pivotally mounted by means of a middle member 25, havingbearing ends.26,26 in the fuselage l, whereby to be rocked or- Wardlyand backwardly, from and toward the pilot. This rocking element 24 ismoved by means of an upright operatinglever 27, pivotally mounted, as at28, upon the middle member 25, in the rocking element 24. This lever, itwill be noted, moves upon an axis extending transversely -of the axis ofthe rocking` element 24. Upon the upper end oi the lever- 27, is agrooved operating hand` wheel 29, having a middle portion, as 30.provided with a series of holes, as shown adaptedto receive a holdingpin 31 in the upper end of the lever 27, whereby saic operating handwheel can be secured, or held against movement. Mounted to slide up an(`down upon the lower end of 'the lever 27, is

an operating block or element, 32. This slid 95 ing element is moved bymeans ofa cable 3E passing over the hand wheel 29, with lo ne enc'thereof attached to the upper side of sait element, as at 34, and withits other end cxtended downwardly and `around a pulleyl 3f at-the lowerend of said lever 27, and theno up tothe underside of said operatinblocl oralement 32, as indicated a`t.36. sai( hand wheel is turned, saidoperating blocl orelement 32 is raised and lowered upon tlv lowerportion of'said lever 27.- I will now' describe the controlling connections'from the various planes, or plan sections, to the controlling-meohanisn From the fron-t edge of plane A, a cable 3' passes aroundapulley 38,.on the fuselage -and thence to a pulley 39`on the `lowerlefhand corner of the rocking frame 24, thenc to the pulley 40,mounted-upon the lower en( of the lever'27, and' thence upwardly to thsliding element 32. From the rearward edg' of plane A, an operatingcable 41 passe ,around a pulley 42 upon the fuselage, thenc to fandaround a pulley 43 upon the uppe" left hand corner. of the rockingelement 24 120 thence4 to -a pulley 44 uponfthe lever 27 thencedownwardly to the operating bloei or element 32. Plane C-is connected insimilar manner, but to the oppositeor rea .Y side of the rocking element24.. An operat ing cable 45 from the frontedge thereof ex tends around apulley 46 upon the 'fuselage thence to a. pulley47 attached to theloweleft hand crner of the rocking frame 24 lthence to a ulley 48 upon thelower end the-lever 2i; and thence upwardly to tf`= above and belowtheir pivotal axes, vwhereby cables are drawn and others are directions,I

operating block or element 32. A cable 49, attached to the rear edge-ofsaid plane C, extends downwardly to a pulley 50 upon the fuselage,thence to av pulley 5l uponthe upper left hand corner of therocking'element 24, thenceyinwardly to a pulley 52 upon lever 27 andthence downwardly to the operating block or element 32.

Planes B and D are connected in the same manner to the front and rear ofthe rocking element, at the right hand side, and itwill not be necessaryto followV these connections throughin detail, as they are clearly indi-4cated in the drawings. It will be. noted,

however, that these operating cables from the various planes, areconnected to the rockmg element, and also to the lever, at points assaid elements are moved, some of the thereby moving the planes upon teir pivotal mountings. rious plane sections by means of theoperatingmechanism ,and the connecting cables may be briefly described asfollowsz' By turninglthe hand-wheel 29 in opposite ave one control, ormovement,

of the planes. By moving the rocking frame or element 24 forwardly andbackwardly, I have another movement or control of the planes." By movingfthe lever 27 laterally 1n either direction upon its pivotal mountingat' 28, I havel another Vmovement or control of the (planes. -And bymoving said lever forwar ly and laterally rin either direction, orbackwardly andl laterally in eitherdire tion, `I have still anothermovement or control.V Thus I have a universal movement upon horizontalaxes,and by means of ythe vertically slidable element 32, as apart of'said controlling mechanism, I can make every movement possible.

I Therefore, by turning the hand wheel 2 9 to the left, the operatingblock. or element 32 is moved downwardly by the cable 33. This movementoperates to draw cables 41,449-, 53 and 54, and to pay out cables 37,45, 55 and 56,

,thereby operating to draw down `the rear edges of all theplane's and toraise the forward edges thereof in unison, and thus 'di-f rect theplanes upwardly. By turning the zontal position.

, multaneously the f forward or advancing Now by rocking the frame 24forwardly andaway from the pilot, cables 37 Aand, 55;"

are drawn by theV lower portion of said rockingA frame, thereby drawingdownwardly ksiv edges of planes and B.` This same movement of the'rockmgelement 24 draws cables The operation of the va wardly. The opposite orreverse movement i ,of the rocking element upon its pivotal mounting,operates to direct" the forward the rear planes C and'.

planes upwardly andthe rearward planes 'y downwardly. By reason of thiscontrol movement, it is possible to correct or restore and maintain thelongitudinal equilibrium of the machine.

Now by moving the operating lever 27 laterally to the right, foroexample, upon its4 pivotalmounting 28, cables 41 and 49 are drawn, andcables 37 and 45 are paid out, whichl manipulation operates to directplanes A and C upwardly. By this same movement, cables 55 and x56 aredrawn, and cables 53 and 54 are pa1,1.lout, which operates to drawplanes B andD downwardly.` Thus the planes on the right hand side aredirected downwardly andthe planes on the -left hand side are directedupwardly.

By moving said lever l27 to the left, or in i the opposite direction, lan opposite movement of the planes is produced. That is, the planes onthe left hand side are directed upwardly, andthe planeson theright handside are directed downwardly. By this movement or control of theoperatinglever, the lateral equilibrium of the machme can be correctedvand maintained. 4

f Now in order to move diagonally 'opposite planes together, the pilotmakes a combina-4 tion forward, or backward, and lateral movement of theoperating lever 27. For example, if said lever 27 is moved forwardly andlateralfy to the right at the same time,

cables 49 and 55 are drawn, andcables 45' and 53 are paid out, therebyoperatingto direct plane B downwardly ,and the diagonally opposite planeC upwardly. Thus, if

the forwardright hand corner of the ma chine (that is, plane B) shouldbe suddenly lifted, the pilot would instinctively lean forwardly and tothe right, or to the high side, thereby unconsciouslyv causing theadjust ment of the planes just described; that is,

plane B is directed downwardly a'nd plane C 1s directed upwardly, thusoperating to right the'vmachineby .action at opposite corners.

If the" pilot should'move the lever backwardlyand to the left, anopposite result, would be produced, and plane B would be directedupwardlyby the drawing ofcable 53 andthe paying out of cable 55, andplane C would-.bel directed downwardly by 'thedrawing of cable 45 andthe`\paying out of cable 49. j L

, This forward movement, or change in the relative position' oftheoperating lever and i lever' and :the lpilots'bod-y assume their nordownhead first 'sin ,the pilots body, operates to direct the. forward planesdownwardly inunison and to direct the rearward planes upwardly. As.

soon as the horizontal or longitudinal equili# briumhas been thusrestore the operating mal positionsrelative to the machine, and themachine assumes its regularv direction of Bight. If the forward endofthe machine is Atilted downwardly and the machine starts the naturaltendency of the pilot is to lean backwardly, thereby moving the rockingframe with him, which movement operatesto lift -the forward edges of thefront planes, and to lower the forward edges of the lrearward planes,thereby qulckly bringing the machine-to a horizontal balance or control.If one side vof the machine is, from any cause, raised or loweredArunduly, vthe natural tendency of thel pilot is' to lean toward thehigh side andthus move the `operating lever 27 toward the higlh' Side.This movement operates, through t e connections, to direct the front andrear planes on the lower side upwardly and'to dlirect the front and rearplanes onthe upper or high side downwardly, thus rightingthe machine andrestoring the lateral fequih brium. This same thin is true of' thecorners of the machine. I one corner'is raised unduly, 4the pilotnaturally leans forwardly and laterally toward that corner, or'if onecorner drops, he naturallyleans toward theV vhigh corner, moving therocking element.

and the operating lever toward the high cor-` ner, which movementoperates to direct the upper `plane downwardly and the diagonally'opposite plane upwardly, thereby'correcting or restoring theequilibrium of the machine'. This natural or'instnctive control is ofYvery great importance and advantageto .the aviatorin the control `ofhis machine, as it insures greatersafety and becomes almost an automaticcontrol. By reasonof he tandem arrangement of the planes, pivotallymounted to turn upon longitudinalaxes, together with-the con,-

- trolling connections. therefrom to the controlling mechanismillustrated and ldescribed. it will be understood that the longitudinaland the lateral balance and control ofthe machine is. made possible andconvenient, and at the same time lis natural and instinctive.

' Fromthe foregoing description of the various movements of thecontrollingmechanism, it will be understood that there are manymovements andcombinations of movements which can be made by the operatoror pilot, without taking his hands from, the hand-wheel; VForv exampleTurning l the hand wheel to theright or to the left op'erat'es to directall of the'planessimultaneously upwardly or downwardly. Moving theraised.

rocking element yforwardly or backwardly operates, respectively, toirect the forward '4 planes downwardly and t e rearward planes wardlyand planes B and D upwardl ,'de-

pending upon the directionin whic .the-

lever 1s moved. There 'are also the four comblnatlon movements 1n whlchthe rockving element 24 and the lever 27 are both moved in eitherldirection upon their "pivotal axes. In other words, the operating lever27 can be' moved toward *any one of the..\four corners and therebyoperate to simultaneously direct twov d iagonallyopposite planesv indifferent directions, as hereinbefore described. l Therefore, withoutthe use lof any@ auxil-v iary planes, such as ailerons or elevators, thepilot is able to fully control and direct his machine at will by themanipulation of the carrying or supporting planes. It Should be noted,too, .that thecontrolling mechanism; that is, vthe rocking element' 24,the operating lever 27, pivotally mounted therein to move transverselythereof, andthe hand wheel, 29,

mounted upon the upper end Iofthe lever 27 .are so mounted and soconnected to the four j supporting or "carrying planes,k which oclcupy,'as it were, the four corners of themachine, that the manipulation ormovement ofsaid controlling mechanism corresponds 1n each case to thenatural or instlnctive movement of the l l changing position of themachine. For e'xample, if the front of the machine'is sud# denlylifted,the body of the pilot and the' rocking element 24 naturally movesforwardly, or maintains a perpendicular posi-v 110 tion, though thefront end ofthe machine',- is

pilots body relative to theV I have also provided my machine the v usualvertical' steering plane or rudder 56,

operable from` a footV lever '57, pivotally mounted upon the fuselage infront of the pilots seat, as indicated. The rudder 56 and thesteeringwheel 3 are both Aoperable connect said lever 57 with the rudder56, whereby vthe latter can be moved at will in together from this footlever57, by means of suitable operating cables. Cables 58 and 59 eitherdirection. Cables 60 and 61 extend fromv the foot lever 57, throughpulleys ing'wheel, and are so connected therewith that'the steeringwheel and the rudder are ,moved together, whether in flight, or on theground. l

I am' aware thatmany changes and `modi iications can be made in theembodiment of 62--63 and thence rearwardly to the steerl positelydisposed and pivotally mounted to4 erating said planes.

2. In an aeroplane, 1n combination with a the invention here shown forpurposes of illustration without departing from the spirit thereof, andI do not, therefore limit the invention to the showing here made anddescribed, except as I may be limited by a broad interpretation of thehereto appended claims.

- I claim:

1. In an aeroplane, in combination with a fusela e, a plurality ofcarrying planes arrange in tandem, each of said planes comprisingtwoindependent plane sect-ions opturn upon t eir longitudinal axes, arocking element pivotally mounted on saidfuselage, an operating leverpivotally mounted on said rocking element, an opera-ting hand wheel uponsaid lever mounted to turn upon a horizontal axis, and operating cablesfrom said planes to said rocking element and said lever with connectionsto said hand wheel, for opfusel'age, a plurality of carryingplanesarranged in tandem, each of -said planes comprismg two independent'planes opposltely disposed and pivotally mounted to turn A upon theirlongitudinal axes, a rocking element pivotally mounted on said fuselage,a sliding element onv said rocking element, an operating element withconnections for moving' said sliding element in opposite directions, andoperating cables from said sup"- portinglanes to said rocking elementand ysaid sliding element.

3. In'an aeroplane, in combination with the fuselage and a plurality ofmovable 5 planemembers, a controllingmechanism for moving `said planemembers comprising a 'I said fuselage, an operatin rocking elementpivotally mounted on mounted on said rocking e ement and movableindependently thereof laterally in the plane of4 said rocking element,an'opera'ting and wheel mounted upon said lever to turn in a verticalplane, and operatingcables from said plane members to said rockingelement, lever and"hand wheel and operable i by either or all of them tomove said planes.

4. A controlling mechanism for aeroplanes,

. comprising in combination, a rocking'frame pivotally mounted toturnupon an axis i'n the plane of said frame, operating cables con! nectedto the opposite sides of said frame,..

both above and below its axis, an operating lever pivotally mounted uponsaid frame and mova le laterall in the plane of said frame independentlyt ereof, and movable therewith, said o erating cables being alsoconnected to said lever at opposite sides there'- of, 'both aboveandbelowits tpivotal axis, and means for drawing in an letting out saidcables independently of the different movements ofthe rocking frame, andthe lever pivotally rocking element to turn upon an axis ex` tendingtransversely of the axis of said rocking element and of its ownlongitudinal axis, and operating cables extending from said planesections and connected to the opposite Vsides of said rocking elementand to the opposite sides of said lever at points above and below 4theirpivotal axes, whereby to move said planes by the movement of said rock.

ing element and said lever together or independently upon their .pivotalaxes.

6. In combination, an aeroplane having a plurality` of horizontallydisposed carrylng planes, a rocking. element, an operating leverpivotally mounted thereupon to turn fipon an axis transversely thereof,an operating hand wheel mounted upon said lever, operating cables fromthe opposite sides of each of said carrying planes and connected 4to theopposite sides of said rocking element, and also to the opposite sidesof said pivoted lever, whereby as said rocking element is rocked, or-said operating lever is moved upon said rocking element, said carryingplanes are moved together, Vor in pairs, and operating connections fromsaid hand wheel to said cables, whereby said planes can be moved inpairs by the operation of said hand wheel independently of the movementsof said rocking element and said lever.v I i 7. In combination with anaeroplane and its movably mounted planes, a controlling mechanismtherefor comprisin a rocking element, a pivotally mounted geverthereupon and turning upon an axis extendin transversely thereof, anoperating hand -wheel mounted on said lever upon a horizontal axis, amovable element operable by said hand wheel, and operating cables fromsaid movable planes connected through said rocking element, and saidlever to said movable element, whereby to move said planes planesarranged 1n tandem and pivotally mounted to turn on their longitudinalaxes,

each Vof said Vlanes comprising oppositely disposed and independentlymovable plane sections, a universal controlling mechanism therefor,comprising two connected ivoted members movableV upon axes 'exten ing atright angles to each other, one of said mem bers' moving at right anglesto the other,

`one of said members moving with the other,

but being itself movable independently of the other, operating cablesfromsaid carrying planes connected to the opposite sides of said pivotedmembers above. andbelovv their pivotal lmountings, and means for drawingin a part of said cables and-letting vout others of said cablesindependently of the pivotal movement of either of said oted members,whereby said plane sections `an operatin A cable upon saidleverextending longitu inally thereof and around said hand wheel,and'operating cables from said movable. planes attached'to said leverand to 'said operating cable, whereby to operate saidV movable planes.

10'. In an aeroplane, in combination With the movable planes thereof, acontrolling mechanism therefor comprising auniversally movable operatingleve'rfan operating hand, 'Wheel upon said lever and turning upon anVaxis transversely thereof, a pulley upon said lever, an opera ing'cable upon said lever and around said hand-wheel and said pulley,

vand operating cables from said movable planes, attached to-said leverand to said.

operating cable, vwhereby to 'operate said movable planes bythe movementof said lever, or ofsaid hand wheel upon their pivotalaxes,independentlyor together, for the [purpose descri ed.

1.1. An aeroplane controlling mechanism of September, 41912.

comprising, in combination with the movable planes thereof, a framepivotally mounted to rock on an axis extending flatwise thereofnternediate its upper and lower edges, a lever pivotally mounted uponsaid frame to move in the plane thereof upon an axis extendingtransversely thereof, a hand Wheel upon sald lever turning upon an axistransversely of the longitudinal axis of said lever, and operatingcables from said movable planes connected through said frame and leverat points'abov'e and below their pivotal axes and to said hand Wheel,whereby said planes can be moved by said frame, lever and hand vvheelindependently of eachother or together, substantially as described.

12. In an aeroplane, in gombin'ation with the movable supporting planesthereof, a controlling mechanism therefor comprising a rocking element,a lever pivotally mounted upon said rocking element to't'urn upon anaxis extending transversely thereof, and a hand-Wheel mounted upon saidlever to turn `upon an axis extending transversely thereof, said rockingelement, said lever and said. hand Wheel being movable upon theirpivotal axes independently of each other or simultaneously or in pairs,and' adapted to have operating cables from said supporting planesattached. thereto at opposite sides of their pivotal axes. i H

Signed at Portland, Oregon, this 28th day .FRANK A. BULLINGTON. Inpresence of- JAMES H. MCMENAMIN, Cms. J. SWINDELLS.

